In honor of Pride Month, we’re amplifying a few queer-owned businesses in our community doing some amazing things!
Check out some of their businesses in the links below to show support.
Founder Lamar Allen
Twendé Alumni & ReGenerate Grant Recipient
LaMarvelous Balloons has been spreading “the Spark” around Nashville since its inception in 2014. The company’s owner and Fisk University Alumnus, Lamar Allen, started the company as a college freshman with the intent of dramatizing Fisk’s campus with vibrant events through balloon decor! The company has grown exponentially, counting numerous colleges/universities, businesses, and private clients around metropolitan Nashville. And LaMarvelous is turning 10 this July!
Recent Wins:
- Won a small business grant funded by Better business Bureau’s (BBB) Integrity Foundation & was featured on WSMV4 NBC Channel 4’s “Today in Nashville”
- Recognized as Small Business Leader of the year nominee for Tennessee Pride Chamber’s Pride in Business Awards 2024
- Newly certified LGBT Enterprise by the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)
TNT GoodsFounders Jessica and Simone
InFlight Alumni
Meet Jessica & Simone of TNT Goods — queens of all things gold, minimalist, and modern. They are local to Nashville & best friends of over 13 years. TNT Goods is a Black, queer, woman-owned business created to encourage & uplift women to feel their most beautiful, confident, and empowered selves. Check out their upcoming events: Porter Flea on June 15th at Nashville Fairgrounds from 10AM-5PM or Bridge to Broadway Juneteenth Block Party (Hosted by NMAAM & Nashville Predators) on June 16th from 12-8PM.
Recent Wins:
- Nominated for Inclusion TN’s Best Jeweler Award, feel free to vote for them here
- Sparked guests with infinity bracelets at MacKenzie Porter’s Album Release Party during CMA Fest
- Launched their TNT Huggies Charm Bar and added additional stockists across the country
Creative Soulz PrintingFounder Thomas Kelly
Twendé Alumni & ReGenerate Grant Recipient
Creative Soulz Printing aims to be your one stop shop providing custom, affordable, quality design and printing services. These include business cards, banners, labels, flyers, large format graphics, and more. We also offer a large variety of custom promotional products such as bags, cups, pens, umbrellas, and more.
Recent Wins:
- As owner of Creative Soulz Printing, I have been awarded the Alignable “Local Business Person of the Year” for 2022, 2023, and 2024
- Won the 2023 Official Community’s Choice Award for “Best of Music City” in the “Printing” category
- Increased growth over 2x last year, once committing to full time in my business
I Am Well Consulting, LLCFounder Maryam Abdallah, LCSW
Twendé Alumni, Inclusion Tennessee Board Member
I Am Well Consulting focuses on emotional wellness by cultivating authentic individuals, healthy workplaces and safe communities in which everyone thrives. They offer mental health wellness services rooted in the empowerment approach and include individual, couples & family therapy, healing circles and workplace clinical training. I Am Well is excited to partner with the Black Mental Health Village to provide mental health training and awareness to select HBCUs in Tennessee.
Recent Wins:
- I Am Well welcomed 3 new contract therapists to their team
- I Am Well is certified as a Minority Owned Small Business with the Governor’s Office of Diversity Business Enterprise
- Maryam Abdallah was recently announced as an Ambassador for the Coalition of Black Social Workers
